Arcanum Academy's New School Nurse (3)
It's morning. Not dawn, but a leisurely morning wake-up. I got ready at my own pace, had breakfast, and headed to work. What a blissful start to the day.
So, what do I have to do once I get there? Nothing, really. Unless a student patient shows up, I can sip my coffee nice and slow and do whatever I feel like. Sure, I'm a teacher, but as the school nurse, I don't need to prep lessons or anything. I just have to hold down the fort.
"...This is the life."
No one's watching me, and no overly devout believers come barging in begging for counseling. The quiet was pure bliss.
But that peace didn't last.
"Hm..."
Right before lunchtime, I realized something was off.
"Why isn't time moving?"
I was bored. Really bored. I figured it'd be quitting time by now, but lunch was still ages away.
It made sense, though. If this were the modern world, I'd kill time on my computer or phone, but nope—not here. I wanted to wander the academy grounds and check things out, but with the infirmary, you never know when a patient might show up. Couldn't just up and leave.
"Haaah..."
In the end, I slumped over, cheek smooshed against the desk. Who knew time could crawl like this? Maybe I should bring a book tomorrow.
But the only books I own are those dull prayer tomes like the bible. Snoozefest.
"Pretty boring, huh?"
Then, with a soft rustle, brown hair cascaded down, followed by a familiar voice.
"Wha—huh?!"
I jerked my head up in surprise.
"I get it. Without patients, there's nothing for an Arcanum school nurse to do. I was bored out of my mind too."
Green eyes like fresh grass leaves crinkled as she spoke.
"Priya? When did you get here?"
"Just now. I knocked, but you didn't hear?"
"Oh, nope. Haha..."
Come to think of it, my clairvoyance had caught a glimpse of someone entering the infirmary. Guess I was too zoned out to care.
"Anyway, you handled yesterday like a pro. Must've been a shock, a patient like that on your first day."
Ah, she meant the kid who showed up with his arm sliced clean off. Priya already knew about it—probably heard from Lucille or the kid himself.
"I've treated worse at the temple."
I skipped the embarrassing part after the healing: blood splattering my face and me passing out. The only witness, Lucille, thought I'd just slipped. Still mortifying. I'd asked her to keep it secret, so she wouldn't blab.
"So, what brings you here? Hurt yourself?"
"Nah. Here to hand over the reins to you, Erdel sunbaenim."
"Oh, right—we haven't done the handover yet."
I'd skimmed the manual notes and had a rough idea, but manuals and real life are different beasts, obviously.
Still, there didn't seem to be much to hand over. Procedure-wise, it was all in the manual anyway—purely medical stuff. And I already knew it all from my saintess days. Nothing new here.
"...Honestly, there's not much to hand over. You'd know it all from temple life anyway."
"Then why'd you come all this way?"
"Skipping out. Used the handover as an excuse to sneak away from that stuffy meeting room."
Priya chuckled wryly, looking fed up. Not my business, but was it okay for staff to ditch like this? Or were the meetings that suffocating?
"Plus, figured you might be bored, so I came to chat. Ask away about the academy or whatever you're curious about."
"Perfect timing. I was dying of boredom and dying to know more about this place."
Thanks to Priya's skip-fest visit, lunchtime flew by without a hitch. She seemed a tad older than me, but we clicked—no awkwardness, just easy vibes. She'd done temple time too, so we were on the same wavelength.
"Any students I should watch out for?"
The thought popped up mid-chat, so I asked.
"Watch out for?"
"Yeah, like kids who fake sick to ditch class and hit up the infirmary a lot."
Every school has at least one. This wasn't mandatory ed, so maybe different, but bound to be some troublemaker.
"Hm... We have a few, but nothing to stress over. Most actually want to attend. Costs a fortune, after all."
Arcanum Academy's tuition was steep.
"Yeah, fair point."
Rumor had it even minor nobles had to empty their coffers for a year. Commoners? Save for decades. Though theirs was dirt cheap compared to nobles'—still no joke, but doable. The gap came from split classes and perks: nobles got free cafeteria and cafe access; commoners paid full. (Nobles' tuition covered it anyway.) Staff? All free. Sweet.
"But there's one it's good to know about upfront."
"Upfront knowledge type?"
"We're teachers here, guiding students. But outside? Not so much."
True. And Arcanum aimed for fairness, not equality by status. Couldn't ignore a kid's background as a teacher.
"Lucille stopped by the infirmary yesterday, right?"
"Oh, yeah."
Lady of Eleanor Dukedom. One rung below imperial family.
"Popularity-wise, she's top dog among students. Other teachers love her too—star pupil."
"I can see why."
Rich, hot, great grades—who wouldn't?
"Her brother's drama factors in too... but that's a long story. Point is, being on good terms with Lucille won't hurt."
"I'd love to stay on her good side."
Speaking of Lucille, that coffee she brewed yesterday came to mind. Delectable. Same beans from the infirmary stash, but mine tasted meh. Secret spice?
"Next up: His Highness the Prince."
"The prince? But he's way older than me..."
The Crown Prince—ten years my senior. Knew him from temple visits. Sweet guy, snuck me snacks. Imperial treats were perfectly sweet—not cloying. Still crave 'em.
But him as a student? Not even faculty?
"No, not the Crown Prince—the Second Prince."
Ah, the little bro. Lived temple-bound, so news was scarce. Glad big bro made Crown Prince—guy always vented he wasn't emperor material. Owe him a letter.
"You didn't know the Second Prince enrolled at Arcanum?"
"Yeah, temple life's kept me out of the loop on outside stuff."
Politics bored me anyway—would've gone in one ear, out the other.
"Makes sense. Temple's so remote in the mountains... and those stairs..."
Priya winced, bad memory surfacing. Yeah, endless stairs: thirty floors from living quarters to prayer hall. Multiple times daily, predawn. Oof—my head throbbed and legs ached just thinking.
"Ahem, anyway—that prince is one of those 'watch out' types you mentioned."
Priya shook it off and continued.
"No way—he skips to the infirmary?"
"Yep. Did it all the time when I temp'd here. Don't stop him, though. He just crashes quietly on a bed and leaves."
Like I'd mess with a prince?
"Got it. Will do."
Sure, saintess me could've, but I'm Erdel the nurse now—not Alessia. No rocking the boat, exposing myself. Freedom's too precious.
"Anyway, Lucille... the prince... who else..."
Speaking of, what's the Second Prince like? Crown Prince never bragged about a lil' bro. Maybe family secrets—or bastard vibes? Wild guess.
"Oh, and one to actually be careful of."
"Yeah? Who?"
"Lady of Rosenberg County. Great grades, but rebels against teachers—especially commoner ones like you."
Priya grimaced. From her vibe, that "somewhat" was underselling it.
"Haha... Think I can guess."
"You get the picture? Direct harm means big punishment, but noble ladies know sneaky ways."
TL;DR: Steer clear. Hassle.
"Anyway, another good-to-know kid, but I gotta head back. Stuff to wrap before lunch."
"Time flew. I'll remember all that—thanks."
Clock showed thirty to lunch. Chatting zipped time by.
"Yep, see ya."
Priya left, lunch hit, and I headed to the cafeteria. Arcanum's was buffet-style, mains rotating daily. Jackpot: lobster and fresh seafood today.
Mouth watering already. Temple mountains meant no ocean eats. Lobster? Pricey even in modern times.
Hurrying there, eager to dig in—
Crash!
"Get lost! How dare a filthy commoner try to dine with Lady Serpia?!"
Suddenly, shattering glass from the cafeteria, followed by that haughty shout.